Cardinals notes: Oquendo keeps infield defense sharp

Sunday

The St. Louis Cardinals’ infield has been among the best in the majors defensively all season, and at least part of the credit should go to third base coach and infield instructor JOSE OQUENDO.

The St. Louis Cardinals’ infield has been among the best in the majors defensively all season, and at least part of the credit should go to third base coach and infield instructor JOSE OQUENDO.

The former versatile big leaguer — an infielder by trade who once played all nine positions in a major league game — has become one of the best defensive tutors of infielders, even after they’ve become established major leaguers. And most other teams around baseball know it.

This year the Cardinals have legitimate Gold Glove candidates at third and first base, respectively, in TROY GLAUS and ALBERT PUJOLS, but they’re also getting maximum serviceability from a variety of middle infielders who have been switched around throughout the season.

“That (switching infield positions) is not easy, but the guys come out early and get the ground balls and stay in shape . . . and TONY (LA RUSSA) does a good job putting guys in and out,” Oquendo said recently on KTRS. “It’s been a good effort from the guys that come out and do the work.

“We do early work — they take ground balls, and also they do double plays, and that’s the key,” Oquendo continued. “Make sure they turn double plays the right way. And they get used to each other.”

Has Oquendo been surprised by the outstanding third base play of Glaus, who took over for departed Gold Glover SCOTT ROLEN without missing a defensive beat?

“Yes, I’ve really been surprised about him,” Oquendo conceded. “For a big guy like he is, he moves pretty well. And he throws accurate out there.”

As for Pujols, who already owns one Gold Glove, “He’s on top of his game,” Oquendo said. “He can pick it with the best. And he takes chances on the ground balls. I think that’s a key for all first baseman. They need to take chances.”

nCARDS QUIZ: St. Louis entered weekend play a season-high 14 games over .500 for the fifth time this season. When was the last time the Cardinals were 15 games over .500? Answer below.

n PLAYER OF WEEK: Pujols was named National League Player of the Week for the week ending Aug. 24. For the week he led the league with a .579 (11-for-19) batting average, a 1.105 slugging percentage, a .652 on-base percentage and 10 runs batted in, and he was tied for the league lead with four doubles.

In addition, Pujols was second in the NL with 21 total bases and tied for third with 11 hits and two home runs. He posted four straight multi-hit and multi-RBI performances from Aug. 20-24, including consecutive three-hit and three-RBI games on Aug. 22 and 23 vs. Atlanta.

nSUPER START: First-year pro CURT SMITH, a Cardinals’ 39th-round pick in the June draft out of the University of Maine, has been named the Appalachian League’s Player of the Year.

Smith, who has been promoted to Class A Quad Cities, batted .378 (73-for-193) with eight home runs and 49 RBIs at Johnson City of the short-season rookie league. With the Appy League’s season winding down, Smith still led the league in batting average, on-base percentage (.418) and runs batted in.

nROSTER MOVE: The Cardinals placed outfielder BRIAN BARTON on the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to Monday) with a strained right oblique. To take Barton’s spot on the active roster, St. Louis recalled outfielder NICK STAVINOHA from Class AAA Memphis.

It’s the third time Stavinoha has been recalled to St. Louis. Entering weekend play he was 6-for-28 (.214) with four RBIs for the Cards. But at Memphis, he was batting .337 with 16 HRs and 74 RBIs.

nQUIZ ANSWER: The last time the Cardinals were 15 games over .500 was on July 27, 2006 (58-43).

nEND QUOTE: Cardinals general manager JOHN MOZELIAK, about disabled closer JASON ISRINGHAUSEN: “I think he has been battling a lot of different injuries all year, and I think he really came to a breaking point. And I think we all know how tough this guy is and how badly he wanted to compete, but I think he came to a point where it just wasn’t working anymore.”

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